This award is very special - Shivaraj Kumar

The state film awards announced recently has come as a non controversial selection as none of the selections have raised eye brows or controversies.

In the past two years, the Jury committee had made some selections which had been severely criticized by the media and the film industry.

This time the Jury committee headed by well known film and television serial director T.N.Seetharam has made a path breaking decision in many selections of awardees in some categories. For example the jury committee has selected Crazy Star Ravichandran for the prestigious Puttanna Kanagal award.

This award is reserved to the film directors who have contributed substantially for the making of films. But unfortunately, this award was being given on seniority basis, though some of the veterans who got the award had done very little in terms of performance.

Another bold selection is to select Jaggesh as the Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "Mata". Though Jaggesh has been acting in heroes roles in many films, his choice for the award in a character which is quite different from the run of the mill roles is certainly a welcome decision.

Shivaraj Kumar has won the fourth state award and this time for his peerless performance in "Jogi". His had won earlier for "OM" directed by Upendra, "Hrudaya Hrudaya" directed by M.S.Rajashekhar and "Chigurida Kanasu" directed by Nagabharana.

Though Shivaraj Kumar has won the Best actor award for the fourth time he feels that this award is special to him. "I am getting emotional about this award. I really want to dedicate the fourth state award to Appaji who was there on the day the when "Jogi" was launched at Ashwini Studios. I was dressed up as a Jogi for the muhurath shot. I went straight to him to seek his blessings with a begging bowl. He filled the bowl with rice. First the film became a blockbuster hit and now I have got this award. What more can you ask for. I have become emotional after I heard this news of this award" said Shivaraj Kumar.

Ravichandran was happy that his work as a director has been recognized with this big award. "To win an award instituted in the name of a big director is something to be proud off. I had many detractors when I started directing films. They said that I should concentrate only in acting and leave the responsibility of direction to others. But with this award I think I have proved something to all. It has come at a right time for me as I am already working on two fantastic scripts. This award will certainly stimulate me to work harder and better' said Ravichandran.

Pavithra Lokesh who is believed to have narrowly missed the Best Actress National award (the awards have not been announced so far despite the jury committee deciding on awards a month ago) had the consolation of winning a state government award.

"This is my first award. Generally I do not think big of my achievements as an actress, but this award has certainly made me serious. I am happy, thrilled and presently on cloud nine" said the actress who is having her best times in television serials.

Girish Kasaravalli the director of "Naayi Neralu" had chosen Pavithra only after seeing her performance in the TV serial "Guptha Gaamini" though the actress had already done more than fifty films.

Four times National award winner Girish Kasaravalli who has made it a routine to win prestigious awards for his films said that "Naayi Neralu" was a highly complicated film he had ever made because it needed a different type of treatment in narration.

"It is certainly a different and difficult film I made, because of the complex issues narrated in the novel. I needed a high level of participation from the technical crew and artists of this film. I am glad that Pavithra Lokesh has got the best actress state award" said Girish. The films' producer Basanth Kumar Patil was happy about his first award as a producer, but credited this achievement to Girish Kasaravalli.

Rathnaja, the director of "Nenapirali" said that the three awards to his film have only confirmed the film has been appreciated by all classes of people and also by the jury committee's different yardsticks. Recently the film had won five FILMFARE awards.

Music Director Hamsalekha said that the award for "Nenapirali" including his own Best Music director award has to be construed as recognition to a team of talented people who wanted to give a quality film to the Kannada film audience. "Kannada film audiences are really hungry to see good films. That is why so many good films have succeeded in the Box office and have also won some prestigious awards" said Hamsalekha.

S.Ramachandra who won the Life Time Achievement award said that he will look back to his achievements, but only look forward for some really competent work in the future. "If I look back, I am afraid some sort of fatigue may set in. I don't want such a situation. I am happy that a technician has been selected for this award for the first time" said Ramachandra.

Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar who is the director of "Amruthadhaare" which had won the third best film award said that he is happy that the film obtained two awards, but said he was also expecting awards for the film's music and camera work.